With candles flickering against the dark, about 150 people gathered at the First Congregational Church to pray for Dana Dourdeville, a Marion man who has been missing since Tuesday.

The vigil began Thursday at 5 p.m. Dourdeville’s friends and family were somber as they entered the church where he is a congregant.

They gathered to pray for Dourdeville, a 2011 graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School and a student at Brown University in Rhode Island.

The vigil began after those present lit candles at the front of church. Rev. Geoffrey Piper offered prayers for Dourdeville and his family.

“Dear God, please come and help us to face this time of struggle and uncertainty and worry,” Piper said. “Help us trust that good things will come to pass, even as we stare into the darkness”

Friends and former classmates of Dourdeville sang “Amazing Grace.” Many other church members joined them.

Before the vigil, two of Dourdeville’s classmates and former track mates said his modest nature made him a good friend, and his athletic skills set him apart.

“He is a very accomplished athlete, but he was always so humble about it,” said Sara DeMello of Rochester. DeMello ran track with Dourdeville in 2011 and 2012.

“He is an unbelievable role model,” said Julia Dugan also of Rochester. “Everyone in town knows who he is and he’s so well-liked.”

Dourdeville, 21, went duck hunting on Tuesday, Dec. 31. When he failed to return after sunset his mother searched for him. She found his car parked on West Island in Fairhaven, but no other sign of her son. She called police who then launched a search.

His kayak was discovered around 11 p.m. that night floating off shore three miles to the east of West Island.

Police continued the searched Wednesday and Thursday. On Thursday, the snowstorm forced authorities to end the search at 1 p.m. for the day.